NSCC hopes to expand enrolment with app aimed at international students

Nova Scotia Community College is looking to make enrolement easier for international students with a new app.

A new smartphone app may soon make it easier for students from around the world to study at a Nova Scotia Community College.

The school has issued a Request for Information for an app developer to get the ball rolling on the project.

Research has suggested there’s just one likely provider but the school’s hoping to attract interest from others who could develop an app up to the standard of the iCent — International Student App offered by Neel-Tech Inc.

Currently, international students make up a tiny slice of the student body pie, with 225 foreign learners to the school’s enrolment of more than 11,000 students, said Ashley Pinsent-Tobin, manager of international learning (inbound) at NSCC.

There are more where those came from.

“That’s definitely a smaller number in comparison with our university partners,” Pinsent-Tobin said.

There are many pieces of communication for students to deal with prior to their arrival in Nova Scotia. An app can make shorter, more direct work of things like study permits, electronic travel authorization, tuition fee dates, questions about health insurance and SIN numbers.

“Apps are really ubiquitous with smartphone use,” she said. “It makes sense to us to give them more information when they want to have that, and make that communication come a little more quickly.”

Going to a foreign country is no small undertaking for anyone. NSCC has an office for international studies that incorporates outbound students heading abroad to study as well as in-bound students coming to learn here.

“It’s a lot of work when you’re moving to a new country . . . The more information we can provide students (the more it) makes the transition to study here easier and makes them more successful when they’re here,” she said.

“It’s that service piece, finding ways to help support students, anticipate their questions a little bit more and provide information when they need it,” she said.

Currently, NSCC welcomes students from 45 countries of origin. In terms of numbers, top countries for future NSCC alumni currently include Korea, China and Caribbean nations.

In a province that has lost some ground, population-wise, recruiting international students could lead to alumni interested in working and living in Nova Scotia when they graduate. But they bring something to the desk while they’re still enrolled, Pinsent-Tobin said.

“International students diversify our classrooms and hallways, and give our students an opportunity to learn about other places without leaving the classroom. I think they add a lot to our community,” she said.